April is Occupational Therapy Month and the perfect time to shed some light on this discipline.

1. Use Social Media.

Describe how occupational therapy helps people live life to its fullest on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media forums. Do this through your facility’s accounts but consider also informing people about what you do on your own personal accounts. Everyone has someone who can benefit from OT.

2. Look for Opportunities to Interact with Public Audiences

Prepare a talk about how OT helps individuals of all ages live life to its fullest, and offer to deliver an informal speech to community service organizations (i.e., Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs, etc.) or the local PTA. Contact senior centers and offer to make a presentation on topics such as driver safety, managing daily tasks while coping with arthritis, gadgets for ease and safety in the kitchen, or time and energy-saving tips.

3. Get some PR

Prepare an article for your in-house publication or pitch a story to the local newspaper or media outlet. Director of Marketing Stacy Ashley Murphy can assist in editing.

4. Inform Coworkers

Set up your department with special coffee and donuts early in the morning. Have staff on hand to chat and inform people about how OT helps individuals of all ages live life to its fullest.

5. Remind Referral Sources

The RehabVisions Print Shop contains cards that can be ordered called “5 Reasons to Refer to Occupational Therapy.” They can be found in the General tab and customized with your facility logo.

6. Hold a Contest

Invite pediatric clients and their siblings to complete a coloring sheet depicting aspects of OT. Display the entries and draw the names of several winners. Take photos of the winners and send them with a story to your facility’s newsletter, or even the local media. Alternatively, for older clients, invite them to write short stories about or take photos of what “living life to its fullest” means to them and how OT is helping them or did help them achieve it. Again, display the entries and draw names of several winners. Take photos of the winners and send them with a story to your facility’s newsletter, or even the local media.

 7. Confer Special Honors

Recognize an outstanding administrator, name an employee of the year, or honor a person or client who’s living life to its fullest. Arrange a ceremony or event to present the honor. Produce a certificate. Take photos and send them with a short description to your local media outlets.

Reference: AOTA.org